Dive Insight:

This announcement gave the mobile payments service a big boost this week. While still available only to iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users, Apple’s mobile wallet is starting to look like a tipping-point technology in the race to make mobile payments an everyday option for consumers.

Apple Pay is now supported by more than 45 banks and credit unions, with 500 more set to roll out the service. The mobile wallet is also accepted at dozens of large national retailers such as Walgreens and Toys R Us, and Chevron recently announced it will add Apple Pay to pay-at-the-pump terminals at its gas stations soon, making the payments system a more familiar option every day.